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Posted July 28, 2006
The Executive Mansion Blaze:
A sign of incident or Incident?
Liberia’s 159th Independence Day, the first
to be celebrated under a genuine democratic government was horrified by a
sudden outbreak of fire at the Executive Mansion. The fire gutted the
nation’s highest building amid the presence of three West African leaders.
From the onset of the incident, Monrovians were gripped
with fear of an armed attack. But as news of the fire reached every
community, calm was restored, but speculations about the cause of the fire
remained.
When authorities are unable to immediately find clues
for event like this, especially in Liberia, psychics, spiritual and
traditional leaders, and ordinary citizens will begin to study the event
closely on their own and draw conclusions from their own perspectives.
The president and her staff have ruled out a definite
cause of the fire-until experts expected in to conduct an investigation
release their findings. In the meantime, the aftermath of the event at the
Executive Mansion is the focus of discussion in every quarter and street
corner of Monrovia.
Some Liberians have quickly jumped to conclusion,
attributing the fire to political and military sabotage that link to
disgruntled Liberians. This conclusion may, if not in its entirety, have
some substance based on several crises deriving from pressure to try
suspected economic and war criminals.
Within the quarters of psychics, traditional and
spiritual leaders, reflection and the history play a significant role in
solving the mystery at the Executive Mansion. The present Executive Mansion
was ceremonially opened on the fifth inauguration of Liberia’s 18th
president, William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman in 1964.
From the eight-story “Dream Mansion” the late William
VS Tubman not only steer Liberian so-say-one-so-so say-all type of political
life, he was accused by oppositionists, grassroots and peasants for being
behind the infamous and unstoppable ritualistic killings in Liberia. During
the days and reign of William VS Tubman, Liberians saw human parts extracted
from children and young adults.
Due to lack of free press and the conduit of
independent inquiry, it was difficult at the time to verify information
about the use of human blood and parts at the Executive Mansion. But the
fact that the nation’s highest office remained impassive to the vampire
state of affairs, ordinary Liberians considered themselves and their
children prey to town leopards.
After the death of the 18th president,
perpetrators of ritualistic killings remained undeterred despite the fall of
their backbone and the apparent declaration of war against them by Tubman’s
successor, William Richard Tolbert, Jr. When William R. Tolbert came to
power, he warned against ritualistic killings-in a zero tolerance policy,
saying, “If you killed the law shall kill you.”
To demonstrate his zero tolerance for ritualistic
killings, late William R. Tolbert set an example on his cousin, Weeks
Tolbert by hanging him after he was convicted of murder. The hardened
ritualistic killers from Tubman days took late Tolbert’s zero tolerance for
granted by murdering Moses Tweh from Maryland County. Caught in the
ritualistic killing of Moses Tweh were top government officials from
Maryland County and late Tubman’s henchmen who included the county’s
superintendent, senator, and among others. After fierce legal battles,
Liberians saw justice ever in 120 years when Tubman’s buddies were hanged to
the disbelief of Liberians.
On April 12, 1980, at about 2:a.m. a group from the
Armed Forces of Liberia headed by Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe slaughtered
Liberia’s 19th president, William R. Tolbert at the Executive
Mansion-unreliable sources said the killing took place in the president’s
bed room. Late Tolbert begged for mercy and reconciliation, but his blood
wasted in the Executive Mansion adding to the blood used by late Tubman for
sacrifice while he was at the Executive Mansion.
While at the Executive Mansion as de facto head of
state and president, several Liberians were allegedly secretly slaughtered
including one of Liberia’s renowned broadcast journalist, Charles Gbeyon.
After the abortive invasion of late General Thomas G. Quinwonkpa in 1985, it
was speculated that parts of the general’s body was taken to the Executive
Mansion for cannibalism purpose based on late Doe’s order.
After unleashing their drugged and child soldiers who
killed over 200, 000 people, the warlords of Liberia emerged from their
blood stained bases around the country and formed a government of inclusion
at the Executive Mansion. But from among them emerged the strongest man,
Charles G. Taylor.
Charles Taylor, being cognizant of the dreadful events
that unfolded at the Executive Mansion before him, held a consecrating
ceremony at the Executive Mansion with some Liberian clergies shortly after
he was sworn in. However, he built himself a mini Executive Mansion to avoid
the mansion residency-but used it as offices.
During the height of the civil war, President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf, then strong opposition politician was heard instructing
Charles Taylor to level Monrovia,-“We will rebuild it.” But during the
election campaign that brought her to power, President Sirleaf denied
telling Charles Taylor to level Monrovia, but said, “Level the Executive
Mansion-we will rebuild it” Some observers believe the Executive Mansion is
blood stained and suffered many physical and verbal attacks during its
existence.
Some
Liberians believe the fire that gutted the Executive Mansion during such
historical festivities is the first of its kind and may be seen as a
symbolic expression for the need to begin true repentance. A Liberian
religious scholar suggested that true repentance must start from the top and
the bloody Executive Mansion must go so that Liberians will stop being
reminded of so many negative events that took over their lives over the past
decades. He said the current Executive Mansion serves as a reminder of the
evils and nightmares that still haunt Liberians from the hands of past blood
suckers. An older Liberian woman residing in a village on Sinoe-Monrovia
High Way said, “The Mansion is tired from all the bad things that have been
happening in there. Let’s just build a new one since this a new Liberia,”
she added.
Writes,
Thomas Kai Toteh
tnyantk@yahoo.com
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